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The Handmaid's Tale Chapter 37: The Commander's Secret Club | Banned Books Podcast
Description
The Commander walks the Handmaid into a secret club hidden inside the same hotel she used to visit with Luke. It's packed with powerful men and women in scavenged costumes, all the things Gilead publicly banned. Then, across the room, Offred spots someone she never expected to see again.
This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot.
Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter. We don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.
Things To Listen For:
- Dan asks the only question that matters about the club: is it a BYO situation?
- Jennifer points out the saddest part of all those costumes: before Gilead, women chose to wear these things for themselves
- Dan makes an on-mic prediction halfway through the chapter. Then he gets to gloat about it
- Dan asks why he and Jennifer don't have a secret signal. Jennifer is not interested in meeting him in the bathroom
- Beowulf brings good news about books behind bars, and Dan tells a story about a Flock camera and a very confused old lady
Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?
This chapter shows the men who outlawed lingerie, makeup, and "immoral" clothing quietly keeping all of it for themselves in a private club. A government that bans something in public and enjoys it in secret is exactly the kind of hypocrisy book banners don't want students reading about.
If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).
Banworthy to Bingeworthy
Beowulf Rochlen from Good News for Lefties joins with good news about access to books for incarcerated people.
- Good News for Lefties: Beowulf's show covering good news for progressives, one story at a time, broadcasting from his "socialist safe house" deep in the Oregon woods.
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Disclaimer
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.
The material used from the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.
https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818
This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?
The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women o